Gibso

or any sign that this was just a cruel joke, a threat meant to scare me into submission. But his face

his voice utterly devoid of emotion. He was treating this like a

nt and impersonal. They were just following orders

egged, my voice crack

nodded to

useless. They were twice my size, trained to handle resistance. They dragge

the door open, the air hit me-a thick, sweet, suffocating cloud of fragrance.

door behind me. The click of the bolt

tightness. My eyes watered, blurring the vibrant colors of the orchids and bougainvillea into a painful, impres

hat was maddening. I clawed at my own skin, my nails leaving bloody tracks, but it did no

growing more shallow, more frantic. I pounded on the glass walls, leaving bloody streaks

lazing, life going on as normal. He was in there, proba

the heart of a large, flowering hibiscus bush, a swarm of bees emerged. They had been drawn b

ns of pain erupted all over my body as their stingers pierced my skin. I flailed, trying to bat them

st conscious thought was of Leo. My sweet, silent boy. I was going

en, no

rs, but the sterile scent of a hospital. An IV was taped to the back of my hand, feeding co

e looked tired, his hair slightly dishe

eling?" he aske

m, my throat t

a reflexive, instinctual recoil, but his grip was

by way of an explanation. An excuse. "Or about your allergi

deliberate act of cruelty into an unfortun

y, scratchy whisper. "What do

having nightmares," he said, his gaze fixed on our joined hands. "Ever since Leo... she's convinced

was hearing. The sheer,

ally go to the summit temple and pray for a charm of protection. You must walk up the thousand

to kill me, to crawl up a mountain on my hands and knees to beg for a blessi

ants a charm, you go get it

is one last thing for me. For the baby. Once Bristol feels safe, once the baby is born, I swear to you, I will send her away

ing. I was done saying no. Because I was beginning to understand that every ne

. The stone steps stretched up into the clouds, a brutal, unforgi

knees were raw and bleeding. By the five hundredth, every upward movement was a symp

mess. I crawled the last few feet to the shrine and accepted th

catch my breath, when my burner phone vi

l you on this number, but I have news. Two pieces of new

ary. Nothing could be worse th

phole in your pre-nup that allowed him to file in a different state without your signature. The divorce was fi

ner, his lover, the mother of his child, but not his wife. All the pain, all the betrayal... it was

in my throat. I leaned my head back against the cold stone.